Package



March 29, 1949. J. H. BONENI 2,465,841

PACKAGE Filed March 15. 1946 4 Sheetshee 1 March 29, 1949. I J. H. 501 mm 2,455,841

PACKAGE Filed larch 15, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 J. H. BONINI PACKAGE March 29, 1949.

4 She'ets-Sheet 5 Filed March 15, 1946 March 29, 1949. J. H. BONlNl 1 2,465,841

PACKAGE Ind March 15 1946 4 Sh eets-Sheet 4 3 Ky j gv Patented Mar. 29, 1949 PACKAGE John H. Bonini, Appleton, Wis., assignor to Marathon Corporation, Rothschild, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application March 15, 1946, sens! No. 654,592 1 Claim. (01. 229-87) This invention relates to an improved package for food commodities such as sliced bacon, sliced cheese, sliced dried beef, sliced cold cuts, pork sausage links, sliced meat and products of a similar nature.

An object of my invention is to produce a package or wrapper for thin, relatively limp merchandise and irregular in form, such as sliced bacon which is cut in thin strips or slices and overlapped in flat formation and which is diffi cult to handle and wrap in a manner which will properly display it and at the same time completely enclose and protect it against contamination while being handled or displayed.

It has been previously suggested to wrap overlapped sliced bacon and similar limp products in transparent cellophane to provide visibility for the product as well as protection during handling.

Another method used consisted in placing the slices on a sheet of greaseproof paper, such as parchment or glassine. having the ends of the sheet extended and folded back over the slices to cover the ends thereof while leaving the center portion of slices exposed. Such packages are very limp and difiicult to handle. Attempts were therefore ma e to reinforce such packages by utilizing stiif backings or inserts. Attempts have also been made to package sliced bacon in rigid cartons of conventional construction. None of the prior packaging methods has proved to be very successful or convenient and has involved con siderable expense in packaging the goods. Such prior packages also did not afford adequate protection for the goods or suitable display at a low cost' In accordance with my invention I provide a package that successfully meets all the difficulties and disadvantages formerly encountered in packaging limp sliced food commodities at a low cost and which can be used very conveniently either by the packer or by the retailer for prepackaging freshly sliced commodities to be sold each day in a clean, sanitary and wholesome manner. My wrapper makes it possible to form packages of a uniform size and shape and to apply the wrapper in a manner to elfectively display the goods as well as any advertising or printed matter which may be applied on' the wrapper. I also provide a completely sealed package having a transparent portion or window portion for the display of the product and a relatively stiff opaque body portion for providing a rigid package that can be releasably locked and from which slices can be removed in any convenient number and the remainder of the pack- 2 age again closed and locked without disturbing the slices left within the package.

Other advantages and features of my invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a package made in accordance with my invention,

Figure 2 is a plan view of a cardboard blank which forms one component of my wrapper,

Figure 3 is a plan view of my combined wrapper consisting of the cardboard blank illustrated in Figure 2 and having attached thereto a flexible transparent lining sheet,

Figure 4 is a plan view of my combined wrapper as it appears on the reverse side of the wrapper shown in Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a perspective view oftlie first step in" preparing a package using my wrapper, the sliced commodity being placed on the body of the wrapper,

Fi-ure 6 is a perspective view at a later stage in making my package. the marginal portions of my wrapper being folde over upon the slices,

Figure '7 is a perspective view of a still later st" ge in th making of my p ckage,

F gure 7A is a plan View of the completed a k ge showing the locking flap in open position, 1

Figu e 8 is a perspective view of the completed package showing the face opp site to that shown in Figure 1,

Figure 9 is a plan view of a modified form of my wrapper showing the sl ced commodity posit oned on the body of the wrapper,

Figure 10 illu trates a step in making a package using the wrapper illustrated in Figure 9,

Figure 11 illustrates a further step in heat sealing the marginal portions of the folded wrapper illustrated in Figure 10,

Figure 12 illustrates a still further stage in the making of the package showing the marginal portionsof the wrapper as illustrated in Figure 11 folded back on the body of the package,

Figure 13 is a perspective view of the package while still in incomplete condition, and

Figure 14 is a perspective view of the completed package made from the wrapper illustrated in Figure 9.

My package consists essentially of a wrapper made of a flat scored blank such as cardboard, indicated generally by the numeral 10 in the drawings, preferably made of a caliper board .012 to .016, provided with a series of straight parallel score lines indicated by numerals l2, l3,

I4, and I5, as illustrated in Figure 2. These score lines provide a bottom panel i6, a top panel IT and relatively narrow front panel l8 and rear panel l9. A locking or bottom engaging panel 20 is provided which is hingedly connected to the rear panel l9 along the score line 15. A tongue 2| is provided in the locking panel 20 which is adapted to be inserted in slit 22 provided in the bottom panel It for reclosably locking the package. The top panel I1 is preferably provided with a cut-out portion indicated by numeral 23 so as to provide a rectangular window therein for displaying the goods packaged in the wrapper.

A flexible rectangular sheet ll of cellophane, greaseproof paper, glassine and the like of larger dimension than the blank I is adhered to one face of the blank in the relation as shown in Figure 3 by means of relatively narrow lines of adhesives 25, 26', 21' and 28 at the marginal portions of the blank l0. Adhesive lines are also applied adjacent the cut edges of the window 23, as indicated by the numeral 24, so as to seal the opening at the window portion. As shown in Figure 4, the flexible lining sheet H has longitudinal marginal portions 26 and 21 extending beyond the longitudinal edges of blank ill and also a marginal portion 29 which extends beyond the free transverse edge 16' of panel J6. The opposite marginal portion 28 of the flexible sheet H is adhered to the blank l0 beyond the score line l5, along the adhesive area indicated by numeral 28 for a purpose which will be explained more fully hereinafter. The lining sheet ii is relatively thin as compared with the blank I0 and is preferably of rectangular shape and of such dimensions, as previously explained, so as to have its longitudinal edges free and extending beyond the longitudinal edges of the blank to which it is adhered and having one transverse edge extending freely beyond the one transverse end of the blank while the opposite end is fixedly adhered to the blank and terminating short of the opposite edge of the blank as illustrated in Figure 3.

The wrapper can be manufactured by means of any suitable conventional equipment and requires no complicated operations as it is merely required to apply adhesive lines to the blank in the proper relation and then to superimpose the flexible lining sheet thereon. The wrappers are supplied to the user in flat condition and can be used for packaging sliced commodities, such as sliced bacon, meat and the like in a very simple manner by merely placing the slices 30 upon the flat blank, preferably upon the top panel II as illustrated in Figure 5. The dimension of the blank I0 is such that its width is slightly greater than the length of the slices 30 which are tobe packaged so that the ends of the slices do not extend beyond the longitudinal edges of the blank Ill. This permits folding of the longitudinal free edges 26 and 21 of the lining sheet over the ends of the slices as illustrated in Figure 6. After the free longitudinal margins 26 and 21 of the flexible lining have been folded over against the body of the package as indicated in Figure 6, the bottom panel 29 is then folded over against the body of the package as shown in Figure 7 and is positioned thereon in flattened condition as shown in Figure 7 and is positioned thereon in flattened condition as shown in Figure 7A. The tongue 2| of looking or bottom engaging panel 20 is then inserted in slit 22 so as to releasably lock the package as shown in Figure 8.

The package is now in complete form and is displayed in the position illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawing. It will be noted when the bottom panel I6 is folded over against the body of the package that the freely extending marginal portions 29 will be superimposed upon the marginal portion 28 of the flexible lining sheet in the relation indicated in Figure 7A. The superimposition of these marginal portions insures complete sealing and closure of the contents of the package. Also any fluid or grease which might be present in the contents will not tend to leak out or be absorbed by the outer carton blank so that the ackage Will not become discolored or stained while being handled or while on display. It will also be noted that the contents of my package are completely enclosed and wrapped by means of the inner flexible lining sheet ll so that air, dust or any other sources of contamination are excluded from the contents until the package is opened.

When 'the consumer desires to utilize the contents part of the slices can be removed from the package by merely unlocking the tongue 2| and opening the package in flat condition in the manner of opening up a wallet. The remainder of the slices can be left intact as originally placed in the wrapper and then the bottom panel I6 is merely folded back into position and the locking or bottom engaging panel 20 folded thereover with the tongue 2| inserted in the slit 22 so as to reclose the package again. The extension of the marginal portion 28 of the inner lining beyond the score line I5 insures complete protection to the contents of the package and also, as previously explained, will prevent any leaking action of fat or grease into the outer cardboard blank which is an important function of the wrapper. Another advantage provided by my wrapper is that when the slices 30 are p aced upon the top panel I! the lining sheet In is retained in position at all times while the blank is being folded for completing the package. Thus when the bottom panel I6 is folded. by virtue of the lines of adhesive 25, 26' and 21 the lining sheet 10 will be automatically folded over against the body of the package at the same time that the panel I6 is folded over, so that it will be accurately positioned upon the slices 30 when the package is being made. At the same time when the marginal portions 26 and 21 are folded inwardly upon the package the lines of adhesive will again retain the lining sheet in place so that it will not be displaced from its intended position and will accurately align the marginal portions in relation to the rest of the package as shown in Figure 6. When the looking or bottom engaging panel 20 is folded over upon the bottom panel Hi the line of adhesive 28' retaining the marginal portion 28 of the lining will again serve to accurately position and register the lining while it is being folded, so that when the package is completed there will be no unsightly portions of the inner liner showing at the edges of the package. Thus a very neat compact-looking package is provided.

An important advantage of my package is that it provides suiiicient rigidity and ease in packing as well as looking when the package is completed. My package is very suitable for use in self-service markets where slices of cheese, bacon, meat bologna, ham, dried beef, meats and the like can be pre-cut early in the morning and merely packed in suitable quantities in my wrapper and then placed in refrigerator cabinets for display. The packages can be easily taken out of the display refrigerator and handed to the customer who can take the package home and place it in the refrigerator and easily open the package for using the entire or partial contents of the package. Furthermore, when a number of different commodities are purchased by the consumer it is often necessary to open each of the packages when wrapped in ordinary butcher paper or similar wrapping material heretofore used until the proper commodity is found. By use of my wrapper the consumer can place his various purchases in the refrigerator and can easily pick out the article which is desired to be used by merely looking at the window portion of my package so that the contents will be immediately identified. Similarly, in the market or store where the packages are sold the commodity can be readily identified by the shopkeeper so that he can hand the package to the customer without loss of time. My wrapper furthermore preserves the contents against contamination and spoilage as well as contact with dust or undesirable micro-organisms which might infect the food. My package can also be printed by the usual carton printing machinery so that trade-marks, designs and the like can be applied to the outer cardboard blank in the usual manner for brand identification.

I may use any suitable type of materials for making my wrapper. The specific materials previously mentioned are not intended to be restrictive of my invention but merely specific illustrations of materials that are suitable. It is preferred to use an opaque relatively heavy paper blank for the outer component of my wrapper of the character which is ordinarily used for making ice cream and butter cartons and the like. Such carton stock can be readily handled on the ordinary carton-making machinery for purposes of cutting, scoring and printing as well as waxing 'if desired. The inner lining sheet which I use is preferably made of cellophane, cellulose acetate or other transparent sheet material. Such sheet materials may be suitably coated or treated with transparent moistureproof coatings in order to prevent the moisture or grease content of the package to penetrate through the inner lining sheet to the outer carton blank so as to prevent discoloration or spotting of the appearance of the package. The inner lining sheet, however, might be made of an opaque sheet such as greaseproof paper, parchment, metal foil or other flexible sheet material if desired. Similarly the outer carton blank may be made of relatively heavy materials besides cardboard stock, such as heavy aluminum foil or laminated sheets which are relatively stiff as compared with the inner lining sheet. Also if desired the window portion 23 can be omitted so that there is no window in the front panel of the package for display purposes, if it is not intended or desired to display the contents within the package.

Numerous modifications of the inventive concept can be readily made. The invention is not restricted to any specific contour, size or shape and is susceptible of a number of modifications. For example, in Figure 9a modification is shown wherein the locking or bottom engaging panel is cut out along the line so as to provide the contour having winged portions 80 and II. Otherwise, the blank I8 is made in a similar manner as the one illustrated in Figures 1 to 8 and is provided with a lining sheet ll adhered thereto by means of an adhesive along the marginal portions of the blank. In forming a package using the wrapper illustrated in Figure 9, the bottom panel 18 is folded over against the body 5 of the package, as illustrated in Figure 10, with the marginal portions and 5| extending beyond the edges of the blank l0. Heat and pressure are then applied along the areas indicated by lines 45, 46 and 41 so as to heat seal the wrapper completely in the narrow regions indicated and thereby completely and hermetically enclose the contents of the package. The marginal portions 50 and BI of the extended lining sheet are then folded over and against the bottom panel IS in the manner illustrated in Fig ure 12. The locking or bottom engaging panel 20 is then folded over against the bottom panel IS, in the manner illustrated in Figures 13 and l4, and the tongue 2| inserted in the slit 22 so as to releasably lock the package. The wing portions 80 and BI provided in the locking panel 20 serve to cover the folded over marginal portions 50 and Si of the inner lining sheet so that the package presents a neat appearance upon its rear face. By heat sealing the inner lining sheet a completely hermetically sealed package is provided which is foolproof against contamination and moisture loss particularly if a moistureproof lining sheet is used for the wrapper.

Obviously many other modifications may be made utilizing the principle of my invention, all of which are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

36 A container comprising a relatively rigid foldable rectangular blank scored to provide bottom, top, front, rear and bottom engaging panels, said bottom panel having a slot therein, said bottom engaging panel having locking means formed 40 therein for engagement with said slot, a flexible lining sheet having a greater width than said blank covering said bottom, top, front and rear panels and a portion only of said bottom engaging panel, said lining sheet being adhered to said blank by relatively narrow adhesive lines extending along the free marginal edges of said bottom, top, front and rear panels, said slot being spaced inwardly of the said lines of adhesive on said bottom panel, whereby said locking means may engage said slot and pass freely between the flexible lining sheet and the bottom panel, said lining sheet having its longitudinal edges extending freely beyond the edges of said blank, one of its transverse edges extending freely beyond one end of said blank and the other transverse edge terminating adlacent the score line of the bottom engaging panel and within the area of said bottom engaging panel and short of said locking means.

' JOHN H. BONINI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the 5 file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 7 1,135,878 Christensen Apr. 13, 1918 1,474,088 Reynolds Nov. 18. 1923 2,008,167 Bergstein July 16, 1935 2,333,943 Levkofl. Nov. 9, 1948 2,835,019 Mullinix Nov. 23, 1943 

